How much do we now about PFAS? Persistent, Bioaccumulative and Toxic?
Known as "forever chemicals", they are persistent to the extent that they won`t break down for ten thousands of years. PFAS and its substances are being detected in air, water, soils, and in rain at levels that could be unsafe in some of the countries. These chemicals are used in range of consumer products such as non-stick cookware, food packaging, clothing, electronics and particularly in firefighting foams.
Considering widespread use of these chemicals worldwide, probably every of person is being exposed and has some dose of PFAS in his blood, which depending on the extent of exposure and concentration may seriously affect human health. Apart from global efforts amid PFAS in the environment, our knowledge about contaminated sites is crucial to health protection!
An outstanding project was presented on 14th International Forum on HCH and Pesticides last week! From 2003 to 2023, Le Monde and 17 partners from Forever Pollution Project developed first map of PFAS pollution in Europe. They investigated PFAS contaminated sites, production facilities, sites where PFAS was used or potentially contaminated areas and conducted the sampling of soil and water.
More than 17,000 contaminated sites across Europe where the PFAS level exceeds 10 ng/l, including over 2,100 sites where it exceed 100 ng/L, making it extremely hazardous for human health.
Please refer to Forever Pollution Project website to see the map and for more information on methodology and data collection.
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